Multiple circuit closer for steering wheels



Dec. 3l, 1935. F L GETTY 2,025,981

MULTIPLE CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR STEERING WHEELS Filed May 29, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet l Patented Dee. 3K1, 1935 PATE NT QFFICE MULTIPLE CIRCUITSTEERING ecosse ron l wusste Fred I. Getty, Jennings, La. ApplicationMay 29, 1935, Serial No. 24.117 10 Claims. (Cl. 20D-59) The inventionrelates to circuit closers and has as an object the provision of acircuit closer which may be installed in a specially constructed rim ofa steering wheel whereby to control signal or light accessories of anautomobile from the rim of the steering wheel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a circuit closeradapted to control either of two circuits by pressure at any point aboutthe rim of the wheel at the proper point radially thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a. device of thischaracter which will be certain in operation and neat in appearance.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription when read in connection with the accompanying drawingsshowing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a detail steering tion;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are vertical sections transversely through the rim ofthe wheel showing diierent forms of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section of a further form of the invention;I

Fig.7 is a similar view of the structure of Fig. 6 showing an operatingposition;

Fig.' 8 is a similar view of a. still further form of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing an operating position of the structureof Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1, the steering post of an automobile is indicated atI0 and the wheel comprises a hub II secured upon said post by means ofthe nut I2. The spokes I3 of the wheel are desirably formed with metaltubing cores I4, indicated in Fig. 2, with an insulating materialcovering I5 thereon. 'I'he core I4 of the spoke is shown as secured, asby brazing or welding, to a metallic core I 6 of the rim I 'I of thesteering wheel. The core I6 of the rim is shown as surrounded by acovering I8 of insulating material as hard rubber, bakelite or the like.

The metallic core I8 is shown as formed with a pair of ribs I9, I 9'vprojecting laterally therefrom forming with the body of the core theangles 20, 2|. Seated in said angles and insulated from the core I6 bythe extension of the insulating material I8 into the angle, there areshown rings 22, 23, 22', 23'.

A wire 24 is shown passing through the spoke plan view of a portion of awheel with a. portion of the rim in secl, in Figure 2, and the core I6,

I4 and attached to ring 23. A second wire 29 lis shown passing throughthe same spoke and through an opening 26 in the core I8 and secured tothe ring 22. Wires 21, 28 are shown entering the remaining spokes of thewheel in Fig. 1, 5 which passing through said spokes are secured one tothe ring 23' and the remaining one thereof through an openingcorresponding to opening 26, Fig. 2, and attached to the ring 22'.

Portions of the rings 22, 23, 22', 23' are ex- 10 posed in recesses 29,29 respectively, which recesses open to the rim of the wheel. It will beunderstood that the recesses 29, 29 the core I 6, and the rings 22, 23,22', 23' are all annuli and extend continuously about To close a circuitby bridging between the ribs I9 or I9' and the desired ring 22, or 23,22' or 23', there are shown bridge members 30, 30 which, as indicated inFigure 1, are preferably produced by helical springs flattened down tothe form 2o shown in Figure 2. Obviously these bridge members could bemade of other forms but for ease of manufacture, exibility in use, andcertainty of operation, the form shown is preferred.

The bridge members 3D, 30 are shown as lying 25 upon the ribs I9, I9with their ends in spaced relation to the rings 22, 23, 22', 23'respectively. To hold the bridge members in central position and todepress the desired sides thereof, there are shown closers for therecesses 29, 29 at 3|, 3|', 30 which are desirably formed of a partiallyvulcanized rubber and which are shown as formed with ribs 32, 33 seatingin recesses 34, 35 in the side walls of recess 29, it being understoodthat the closure 3|' is similarly formed.

The recesses or grooves 34, 35 are shown as deeper than the ribs 32, 33to allow for depression of the rib 32, or 33, in the groove.

From the structure as described, it will be seen that pressure upon thecloser 3I or 3|' at 40 a location at either side of the center willresult in closing the corresponding circuit by tilting of the bridgemember 30 upon its suppo ing rib I9, and that the resilience of thebridge member 30 will restore the switch to open circuit 45 conditionwhen the pressure is released.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, only one pairof circuit closers is shown, desirably formed in the upper surface ofthe steering wheel rim. As there shown the re- 5( cessesv 29, 29h, 292correspond to the recess v29l I6b, I6 of the wheel correspond to thecore I6 of Figures 1 and 2, which cores also are formed with the ribsI9, Il, I9". 55

the rim of the wheel. 15

fil

one-half of a circle. The bridge members 40 of these forms are formed ofhelical spring annular bands of the same nature as that shown in-Figures 1 and 2, but are left in their cylindrical form,k and seatingin the recesses 39 are therefore interlocked with the material of theclosers 36-38.

The closers 36 are shown as very slightly spaced from the ribs I9-I9,and the members 40 rest against the upper outer angles of the ribs, saidangles being preferably slightly chamfered for the purpose. When soformed, a ,pressure upon either of the ribs 4I, 42 of Figure 3. or 4I',42', of Figure 5, will cause the corresponding bridge member 4U to bedepressed into contact with the corresponding rib 22a or 23a.

Figure 4 shows a closer having a central ridge 43. To operate this form,a finger or thumb is pressed upon one side of the ridge and pressurebeing exerted substantially normal to the slope of the ridge causes thebridge member 40' to be depressed into contact with the ring 22b or 23h.

It is to be understood also that in connection with the forms of Figs.3, 4, and 5, the cores IGH, I6b, IISc are rings or annuli, as are therings 22e, 23B, etc. Also that the recesses 29a, 29h, '29c are annularrecesses extending completely around the rim of the wheel and that thebridge members 46, 40', 40" are annular bands of helically woundresilient material.

In the forms of the'invention shown in Figs. 6-9 inclusive, means areprovided to hold a circuit closed until released by a subsequent act ofthe operator.

In the form of Figs. 6 and '1,' the movable contact 3l'la formed ofhelically coiled wire in flattened coils is supported at a centralportion on fixed contact I9.

The groove 29@ has inwardprojections 44, 45 which coact with depressions46, 41, respectively in closure 48 to retain the device in normal opencircuit position. When the pressure is applied to the right-hand side ofclosure 48, the structure of the closure and contact 38B is tilted tothe position of Fig. '7 to close a circuit, the projection 44 thenseating in depression 49 and the projection 45 pressing into the softmaterial of the closure. Actuation in the opposite direction will causeprojection 45 to enter depression 50 to hold the opposite contacts inengagement. The circuit may be again opened by pressure on the elevatedside of closure 48.

To assist in holding the contact 30 and closure 48 in normal positionprojections 5I, 52 are shown formed upon closure 48 and underlyingshoulders 53, 54 of the rim I8.

To permit of ease of tilting, cuts 55, 56 are provided flush with theupper surfaces of projections 5I, 52.

In the form of Figs. 8 and 9, the closure 51 is formed with plainarcuate surfaces 58, 59, projections 5I', 52 and cuts 55', 56', thelatter mentioned features acting as in the form of Fig. '7.

The movable contact 30b rests upon central metallic grounded support I9which latter isgiven a greater height than in Fig. 6. The contact 30h isdeformed to provide points 60, 6I which Acoact with inward projections62, 63 to hold the Vcontacts normally open or in an operated position,to be opened by a subsequent action as will be readily apparent.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the inventionwithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from 5 thespirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, incombination: .a wheel rim formed with an annular groove; a metallic corefor said lo rim presenting an annular contact portion standing centrallyof said groove; a pair of metallic contact rings exposed in said grooveconcentric with said annular portion at respective sides thereof andinsulated therefrom; and resilient l5 annular bridging means restingupon said annular portion and depressible at either side thereof and atany point about the rim to close a desired circuit.

2. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, incombination: a Wheel rim having an annular groove; a pair of insulatedcontact rings exposed in said groove to be placed in connection withindividual circuit portions; annular supporting means projecting intosaid groove be- 2 tween said rings; annular-band, contact meanssupported on said annular means for depressionI at either side thereofand at any point about the rim into contact with a desired ring; andmeans to connect said annular band contact means in a common returncircuit.

3. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, incombination: a wheel rim having an annular groove; a pair of insulatedcontact rings exposed in said groove to be placed in connection withindividual circuit portions; annular supporting means projecting intosaid groove between said rings; annular-band, contact means supported onsaid annular'means for depression at either `side thereof into contactwith a desired 40 ring; means to connect said annular-band oontact meansin a. common return circuit; and a resilient closurefor said groove,contacting said annular-band contact means, acting to hold the samenormally out of contact with either of said 45 rings.

4. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, incombination: a wheel rim having an annular groove; a pair of spacedinsulated metallic rings exposed in said groove to be con- 50 nected inindependent circuits; an annular metallic member exposed in said groovebetween and insulated from said rings to be connected in a commoncircuit portion; an annular, radially I elongated contact membersupported' on said an- 55.

nular member and overhanging yeach of said rings; and a resilientclosure for said groove overlying said contact member exposed tooperating `pressure upon each of said overhanging portions.

5. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels 60 comprising, incombination: a wheel rim having vsaid contact member and holding saidoverhangingportions out of contact with said rings.

6. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, incombination: a wheel rim havin g an annular groove; a pair of spacedinsulated 75 underlapping relation with said metallic rings exposed insaid groove; an annular rib projecting into said groove between saidrings; a resilient closure for said groove; a pair of helically-coiledbands interlocked with the material of said closure and bearing side byside upon said rib to respectively overhang said rings, means to connectsaid rings in individual circuits and means to connect said bands in acommon return circuit.

7. A multiple circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, incombination: a wheel rim having an annular groove; a pair of spacedinsulated metallic rings exposed in said groove; an annular ribprojecting into said groove between said rings; a resilient closure forsaid groove having a pair of grooves at its inner surface; a pair ofhelically coiled bands each embedded to a depth of more than half of itscross-sectional diameter in one lof said grooves to interlock with thematerial of said closure and bearing side by side upon said rib torespectively overhang said rings; means to connect 'said rings inindividual circuits; and means to connect said bands in a common returncircuit.

8. A circuit closer for steering wheels comrising, in combination: a rimhaving anannular groove formed with an inward projection ex-l tendingcontinuously thereabout; a flxed contact exposed in said groove; amovable contact member; a groove closing member overlying said contactmember; one of said members formed continuously thereabout with aportion movable to projecting portion to hold a circuit closed andreleasable therefrom to open said circuit.

9. A circuit closery for steering wheels comprising, in combination: arim having an annular groove formed with an inward projection and withoppositely located inwardly projecting shoulders, said portion and saidshoulders extending continuously about the EIOQYe; an upwardlyprojecting ridge in the bottom `of the groove; a ilattened annular bandof helically coiled wire supported at its mid portion on said ridge andforming a movable contact member; a closure member for said grooveoverlying said movable contact member; ilxed contact rings exposed insaid groove one on each side of said ridge; one of said members having aportion extending continuously thereabout by coaction with said inwardlyprojecting portion serving to hold said contact member in engagementwith one of said rings when tilted into such contact; and outwardlyprojecting portions carried by said closure member underlying saidshoulders.

10. A circuit closer for steering wheels comprising, in combination: arim formed with an annular groove; an upstanding ring portion in thebottom of said groove;"an annular band of helically coiled wireflattened perpendicularly to its diameter resting upon and tiltable upon.said ridge;

means to close respective circuits by tilting said band in eitherdirection; said groove formed with inwardly projecting shoulders; aresilient closure for said groove formed with oppositely projecting lipsunderlying said shoulders and overlying said band; 'the material of saidlips severed from the remaining portion of said closure upon planesiiush Awith the shoulder contacting surface oi said lips throughportions of the closure to lessen resistance of the closure to tiltingpressure at the sides thereof.

FRED I. GEI'I'Y.

